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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all Iliffieulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.

C.M.U.A. Visit Birmingham.

On Wednesday and Thursday of last week the National Council of the Commercial Motor Users Association visited Birmingham, where a well-attended meeting. was held at the Queen's Hotel. Mr. E. S. S_hrapnell-Smith, C.B.E., M.Inst.T. presided. During the meeting a number of interesting subjects were discussed, amongst which was the questMn of chars-a-bancs running on thiidclass roads, the suggestion of methods whereby commercial car drivers could take in signals from drivers wishing to pass them, and the use of commercial vehicles for the conveyance of employees. Most of these questions IN ill be discussed again at meetings held at Olympia, when probably some line of action will be decided. After the general meeting Mr. E. S. Shra.pnell-Smith gave a short address on the fuel question, and then a --dinner to members of the National, Council and guests cencladed the day's, s. programme.

Petrol Profits.

It is expected that the final report. of the sub-committee, appointed to Investi. gate the costs and profits of motor fuel, will be presented to the -Presidefit ofthe Board of Trade during the next fortnight. Just recently, representatives of the petroleum companies have attended before the committee and given evidence, which, in their view, justified the recent advance of 7d. per gallon in price. It is understood that the Fuel Research Committee is by no means sanguine as to the possibility of replacing present oil fuels by power alcohol+ on the other hand, there are men like Sir Charles Bedford who do not. agree with this dictum.

Mr. P. J. Hays, of Hays, Standen and Co., Ltd., is in a nursing home at 2, Sydenham Road, EastCroydon, where he is recovering from a recent operation. Many of his friends who have been unaware of this will be gratified to hear that he is ;making satisfactory progress.

• Republic Trucks, Ltd., 79-82, Bolsover Street, Great Portland Street, London, W. 1, the sole eancessionn sires for the Republic lorry for Great Britain, announce the following reductions:— 20-30 cwt, model reduced from £575 to 495; 30-40 cwt. model reduced from £674 to £595.

Brown Bros., Ltd.-, have hitherto controlled the sales of 13rolt lighting and starting sets, but it has recently been arranged for this control to be transferred to the company's head office: All communicationp from buyers should therefore' in future be addressed to Brolt, Ltd., Oldbury.

Peruvian Prospects. •

According to the trade notes recently received from the commercial secretary to H.M. Legation, Lima, it is stated that several agents for American vehicles in Peru are giving up their businesses and liquidating their stock. It would appear that the business has not, in most -.cases been very profitable, and, itis expected, will be found less so now that, vehicles of European make are arriving on the market. It is further stated that a French company is opening a sales branch in Lima, and has already secured a number of orders for motor lorries ascl high-priced passenger ears.

Recent adviees frern New York state that manufacturers of the Selden chassis have recently reduced the prices of their chassis by 100 to 170 dollars, whilst the makers of Indiana lorries have reduced their range of vehicles by 135 to 400 dollars.

The directors of the Fellows Magneto Co., Ltd.,' Cumberland Avenue, Park Royal, London, N.W. 10, have declared an interim half-yearly dividend at the rate of 25 per cent, per annum (less -tax) on the ordinary sharee of the company for the period'of six Months ending June 30th, 1920. This dividend will be paid on November 15th;

Italy Taxing Motor Imports.

Since September 15th all types of motor vehicles imported into Italy have been declared dutiable. Moreover, they can only be imported under licence. Vehicles weighing over 400 kilos. are taxed at the rate of 120 lire per 100 kilos. Those up to 2,500 kilos. pay an ad valorem surtax of 35 per cent. For those weighing above 4,000 kilos. 60 lire per 100 kilos. is charged. Chaesis which cast be imported without licence, are dutiable at the rate of 70 lire per. 190 kilos. Complete rear axles are allowed into the country on payment of 90 lire per 100 ki1ca., and speed gears at 110 lire for the same weight. In addition, on both of these classes of parts a surtax of 30 per cent, ad valorem is raised.

Municipalities and the Price of Petrol.

Viewing. with the utmost concern the steadily ruing price of motor fuel, the Coventry City Council is making representation s to the Government as to the danger to the community arieing therefrom, and urging for immediate action to secure the production and distribution

of power alcohol within the empire under the immediate supervision and control of the Goyernment,, and also to ensure that the coal consumed in this country shall be so treated before use as to extract all the possible 'available motor spirit. The City Council is asking every municipal authority throughout the country to support this request to the Government.

Pneumatics Impossible for Motorbuses.

Brighton Watch Committee asked Tilling, Ltd., to fit pneumatic tyres on buses to obviate complaints on one of the routes of noise and vibration. Messrs. Tilling, however, reply that the provision cif pneumatic tyres is impossible, even if the expense were justified by the traffic on the service.

. Leyton's Elechric Dust Vans.

At a meeting of Leyton Council's Health Committee a letter was read from the Edison -Accumulators, Ltd., asking for a variation in price from £1,304 to £1,494 per van in connection with their contract for the supply of motor dust vans.

The Surveyor -reperted em the work of the vans already delivered. The No. 2 van with London-built chassis compared very unfavourably with the original chassis of an American design, taking on the average 20 minutes longer per delivery to shoot at the work; but experiments since carried out with the improved body built at the Birmingham works. of the Edison Co. had proved' satisfactory, and showed equal results to the American type.

The committee therefore recommended that the five vans still to be delivered be supplied with this improved body at an additional cost of £190 per van—the company to undertake to complete delivery by January.

Motor Buses for New Housing Estates,

Ilford Urban District Council has asked the Minister of Transport to receive a deputation with reference to the position of local authorities desiring to purchase and run motor omnibuses in order to provide travelling faeilities in connection with the State-aided housing chemes.

More About the Liverpool Buses.

The traffic „returns of the Liverpool Corporation trains and motor omnibuses make interesting reading, but it is evident the buses are still far from being a paying concern. The figures are for the three weeks ending September 25th, and are as follow :— Trams. Motorbuses.

£ s d. s. d.

Receipts ... 84,977 14 6 2,941 7 9 Passengers 13,061,522 305,065 Mileage ... 885,165 41,708

The figures below are those for the corresponding period of last year, and read in conjunction with the above will be found useful:—

Teams. Motorbuses.

s. d. s. d.

Receipts ... 73,748 18 3 2,117 2 0 Passengers 12,394,609 309,148 Mileage ... 786,437 32,848 After considering the traffic returns for the experimental motor omnibus service from the eeer Read to the principal railway stations, the tramways committee has decided to discontinue the service. The general manager has been authorized 'to make use cif spare motor omnibuses for football and other, special traffic ,at a fare which will make the business remunerative."

New Tyne Bridge.

The North-Eastern Railway Co. has. been asked by the.,South Shields Corporation for aplan of the proposed bridge to be constructed !across the Tyne from Pelaw Staithee to Walker, with a view to provision, being made for vehicular and other traffic. The matter is not sufficiently advanced to enable the request to be complied with:

Smith's Stamping Report.

The report of the directors of Thomas Smith Stamping Works, Ltd., for the year ended Jaly 31st, 1920, shows a profit of £57,004, after making ample provision for depreciation of plant and machinery and all taxation liabilities. To this sum must be added the amount brought forward front the previous year of £12,167; making a total of £69,17).. An interim dividend of 2s. per share free of income

Institute of Metals Programme.

The programme of the Institute of Metals for the session 1920-1921 is very attractive, including, as it does, lectures by such well-known authorities as Lord Weir, Dr. W. Rosenhain, F.R.S.; and

Professor T. Turner, M.Sc., who is to deliver the annual May lecture, the most important non-ferrous meal disconise of the year. Never before has such a complete and detailed programme ..been issued so early in the session. It covers the activities of the Institute for 12 months.

We notice that the meetings of the various local sections are free—there used to be a separate subscrCplion to each—to members of the Institute of Metals; ballots for the election of members to which will be held on December 13th, 1920, and February 23rd and April 20th, 1921, Further details can be obtained from the secretary at 36, Victoria Street, London, SW. 1.

Union Bans Motor Tonnage System. Recently the Marylebooe Borough Council authorised the payment to the three dustmen and motor driver of each of the council's dust lorries of a sum of 4e. per ton (1s, per man) for each ton of house refuse collected daily above eight tons on full working days and five tons on Saturdays. The object was to encourage the men to work expeditiously during the winter when the reuse to be collected is heavier than in the summer. The men promptly agreed to the proposal, but now the National Union of Vehicle Workers notify that ths Executive Committee cannot in any circumstances entertain the idea of & tonnage system.

The Main Roads of Essex.

The Essex county surveyor haa prepared a scheme, involving an expenditure of neary half a million for making 77 .miles of main roads fit for modern traffic. He reports that it is urgently necessary that a fleet of 20 steam tractors be provided to secure haulage from railway stations and quays, because the present method of employing a few contractors and using farmers' carts has. completely broken down. To provide these 20 steam tractors or wagons, a capital sum of 230,000 will be required.

A Valuable Motor. Ambulance Service,

The 1919 report of the medical offieet of health for Willesden mentions that the motor ambulance service continues to do excellent work, and is much appreciated by the public. Daily some 100 abnormal children are taken to the schools for the mentally and physically defective. ,About 600 cases of infectious disease are removed each year, arid some 1,000 cases of sickness or accident are also removed. In addition, about 700 journeys per annum are made in connection with disinfection of bedding and other articles. 'Seven motor vehicles are at work, and the total number of miles travelled per annum is 50,000. .

Char-a-bancs Nuisances:

Having had many complaints as to the conduct of char-a-banes parties on the

public roads, the Essex County Council Instructed the Chief Constable to pay apecial attention to the matter and report as to how the nuisances usually committed can best be dealt with. The clerk to the,County Council has also been in cemrnunieation with the Home Office in order to ascertain if it is proposed to draft a model by-law, or to take any Parliamentary action to deal with the maisance, but is informed that the whole question . of the regulation of motor vehicles is under consideration by a De-. partmental Committee appointed by the Ministry of Transport., and that the Secretary of State proposes to await the report of that committee. In the meantime, the County Council has transinitted certain recommendations of • the Chief Constable to the Secretary of State for consideration.,

The Object of Tramway Buses.

The Tramways Committee of the Bournemouth Corporation has had a suggestion from a trade union that a motor omnibus service Should be run_from Wallisdown to,Winton. The general -manager was instructed to reply. that the matter would receive consideration when buses were available. .

Regarding a suggestion for the extension of the present service from Alum Chine to Westbourne, the town clerk was instructed to reply thatthe omnibuses are intended as feeders to the trams, and of themselves are run at a loss.

Economy of Bulk Storage.

The Works Committee of the Marylebone Borough Council reports that it has had under consideration for some time the desirability of storing petrol in bulk. At present the petrol required for the council's motor vehicles is obtained in tins, but this method of supply is uneconomical owing to waste arising • through spilling, evaporation, etc. The British Petroleum Co. has pffered to supply petrol in bulk at 1id. per gallon less than the cost of supply in tins. The consumption of petrol by the council's vehicles is, at the moment, approximately 1,000 gallons per week, so that a saving of £325 per annum can be effected by obtlining supplies in bulk. The installation of a storage tank at the depot will have the further advantage of enabling the council to obtain supplies of benzoic, which is, at present, only supplied in bulk, and the coat of which is less than that of petrol. The committee has obtained two tenders for the supply of a steel petrol storage tank, and recommends 4cceptance of that of the Dawson and Mason Gas plant Co., Ltd. (Department for Beardmore Pumps and Oil Storage Equipment) for the supply of a 5,000 gallon tank with the necessary pump and equipment for the sum of £466, which was the lower

of the tenders received.estimated cost of carrying out the work in connection with the installation of the tank is estimated at £60.

• Dorman's Report

The report of W. H. Dorman and Co., Ltd., of Stafford, for the year ended July 31st, 1929, shows net, profits for the year after providing for all working expenses, excess profits duty, and corporation profits tax of £72,980, to which amount mast be added £145,608 brought forward from the' previous year's aceountS, which after deducting the amount of excess profits duty payable up to July 31st, 1919, leaves £27,376, making a total aum of £100,357. Out of this sum a fixed dividend on the 8 per cent. cumulative participating preference shares has been paid amounting to £5,364, leaving a disposable balance of £94,993. This is to he allocated by the payment of a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum on the cumula: "tree preference shares, which will absorb £3,342, by the ,payment of an additional dividend on the cumulative preference shares at the rate of 1 per cent. per annum, which will absorb £1,086, by the payment, of a dividend . at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares,. which will absorb £25,355, After. deducting these amounts, together with directors percentage on profits and the entire expenses irt connection with the public issue in Decensber, 1919, the sum of £43,947 remains, which is to be carried forward to the next account. ..

Lincoln Motorbuses:

Arrangements in connection with an extensive scheme of motorbike, traffic at Lincoln, have so far progressed that it was reported at a meeting of the .Corpoxation last week that five of the new vehicles will begin running for'ahb.peaind of the races -nextmonth.Obviously no more exacting time Could -have"been selected for testing the efficiency of the plans, for which; upon a comprehensizes basis-, preparations have been long in pro-glees, little doubt being.'enter6ained; having' regard te; the 'niture'of the districts to be eerved, • that the ,financialresults will be of. a satisfactory character. The routes have been admirably selected, presenting possibilities of convenience of travel which have long been needed, especially by residents in the suburban dietrietseof the city, inwhich building developments have been considerable of

late years. .

Municipal Buses and Road • Maintenance.

At a meeting of the Paving Committee of the Manchester Corporation a gate. ment was submitted showing the expenditure for the past six years on the roads traversed by the Corporation motorbuses, and it was decided to ask the Tramways Committee to make a contribution towards such expennitiire.: :When this request was subsequently considered by the Tramways Committee,' it: was decided -to nctiff the Paving Committee

that ha contribution eiatild be inado.

Transport Men's Strike Threat.

Inview of the threatened strike of Liverpool road transport meo, there was held, under the auspices of the Port of Liverpool Eniployers! AssociatiOn, ari important meeting attended by representshives of most of the leading trade asso. ciations of the city, including transport, in all 16. Their decision on the carters' and metormetes demands, which was communicated to their union, was evi dently of sufficient weight to induce the men to pause to consider before embarking upon a strike that would have such far-reaching effeota. The men decided therefore to suspend notices for a week in order that the question of the claim for an increase of wages might be discussed on a rational basis at a special meeting that was held in London on Friday, October 8th. The Ministry of Labour, it appears, has also intervened, and the decision arrived at, at the meeting on Friday, was to be communicated to the men at a meeting which they held on Sunday.

Opportunities in British Columbia..

The Hon. Win. Sloan, British Columbia Minister of Mines, stated in a recent speech that blast furnace pig-iron was producible in the colony at 33 dollars per ten. Thi.s is as cheap as spot pig-iron in Pennsylvania, and is not half the price per ton that has been paid for pig-iron imported from other provinces in the Dominion or from the States. The British Columbia Government is deterMined to develOp' local resources, and, , (hiring the next-five, years, is to give a million dollars in bounties to pioneers the prOduction of pig-iron from local oies.

With the development Of the steel industry in British Columbia will come the opportunity for efiterprisirig 'motor manufacturers to lay firm foundations for a large expert trade with the many Countries in coiirse Of development that are washed by the waters of the Pacific. The colony will passe, a great advantage over the States in the export of motor vehicles beeau,se the high cost of overland freights would be saved. There is reason, to believe that seVeral of the leading American itantfacturers are meditating opening up factories in the neighbourhood of Vancouver, and it is to be honed that British manufacturers will not allow, themselves to be forestalled in this direction.

TractionEngine Regulations._ . .

With regard to the nuisance arising from 'traction engines in Manchester a committee of the Corporation urges that there should be regulations made by the Ministry of Health, but expresses the opinion that there should be no limit with regard to weight.

Possibilities in Bulgaria.

Of the ex-enemy countries Bulgaria shows signs of being the first to find its economic feet. At the present moment a high Government official it in this country for the -purpose of re-opening trade relations, and also for the purpose of seeking British capital and enterprise to develop the country's resources.

• The great majority of Bulgarians are employed in agriculture, and many of the small-holders are forming co-operative bodies for the purpose of acquiring tractors. The Government, too, has adopted a vigorous roads policy. During Tast month, after the gathering of the harvest, hundreds of thousands of men were employed in building and repairing roads and bridges. This, together with the limited railway communications, sug-gesis that there ehould be a considerable demand. for lorries in the near future. At present Bulgaria mainly relies on her northern neighbour for petrol,, but in several parts of the country deposits of oil shale have been discovered. These, when developed, will allow the country to be independent df other countries for rmitor fuel. . . .

A New Electric Thick.

The electric truck shown in this issue on' page 292 .isone Of, the latest, types Of • such_vehicles manufactured by 'the English .Electric Co.; Ltd., at their Works -at Bradford, and used there for the conveyance of material from one part of the building to the other. It is designed for a load of from 20to 30 cwt., end, on a level flooring, will run froni 2 to 4.; toni loaded, 'aCeordingto load. The motor has a nominal driving power of 14 1-4, and is Capable of working under. the roughest conditions, and the power is 'transmitted. through a. douhleereduction gearefrornithe motor to the single driving ivheel by Hans Ronald

chains. . -----

The latest. type. of. the„kiltinson 6 ton ' Olympia -how ,Wagon,.With patent " Unifiow " engine, was on view last week (October ''5th to 8th) at the premises of the Tower Motor Co., Ltd., Milford Street, who are the Liverpool agents for the Atkinson steam wagons. A.. brief_ deseriptiona of this machine appears elsewhere.

• Birkenhead Buses.

In his 1919-20 repoit Mr. C. Clarke, manager of the Birkenhead Corporation tramwa-vs and motors department, states that following on the motorbus powers sanctioned by Parliament in 1914 an -order was placed with Leyland Motors, Ltd., in February, 1910, for 10 omnibuses. Four were delivered in July, _1919, and a service was instituted between Rock Ferry and Park Station, and subsequently extended to Moreton. The financial result of this service is very satisfactory as a commencement, especially in yiew of the fact. that it is largely a " fine weather route," and that the period covered by the return is mainly the winter months. Further buses were delivered this year, and on completion of the order in Stine a further route from Charing Cross to Upton was opened in July. Application has been made to the Bromborough and Lower . Bebington district councils for • permission to exercise the new corporation powers in the direction of a service from

'New Ferry to Bromborough, but per. Mission has not E.0 far been granted. The statistics show that, the expenditure was £5,982 and that £2,118, or 4.920d. per bus-mile, balance was carried to net revenue account.

"Scrapping" The Railways.

The Sentinel Waggon Works (1920), Ltd., of Shrewsbury, have received from South Africa an interesting photograph depicting two locomotives being taken to their last resting place—the scrap heap— on a Sentinel wagon and trailer. We publish the illustration on this page.

The Sentinel concern have always emphasized that the Sentinel would eventually help to dispose of the railways in this way, and here is an actual example taken from life.

Perhaps this photograph taken in a Johannesburg scrap yard will, in a few years, become allegorical.

Transport Men's Strike Threat.

Liverpool carters and motor men decided at a meeting held on the 26th ult., that if the employers did not give them satisfaction with regard to their wages claims before October 4th, they would tender a week's notice. There can be no gainsaying that Lord Shaw's award, whilst it may have succeeded in allaying unrest amongst one body of workers has done much to stimulate industrial unrest amongst the others.

The wages of the Liverpool dock labourer, working the foil 44 hours' week, are 24 Ss. The carter and motor driver, who consider themselves on a higher industrial plane, and almost daily have to load and unload at thedocks, than come along and demand a similar wage. They forget, however, many of them, during the summer months when there was little traffic moving, that their services were not dispensed with and they continned drawing their weekly wages, when the dock labourers, hundreds of them, were walking the streets.

More traffic is now available, and following the accepted trade union practice, the union blazons forth its threats. There are in the Mersey district some seven or eight transport associations, and what their response has been to the men's action is not known, but if a strike should take place one thing is certain— that the effects will be felt further efield than Liverpool.

The union's claim is for an increase in wages by which the minimum for drivers of one-horse vehicles -would be 24 7s., the existing minimum being £3 11s.; drivers of two-horse vehicles and motor men to receive an equivalent advance. When, as the re:sidt o the Industrial Courts decision the men's application was turned down, and the employers declined to discuss the matter further, the Liverpool men decided to take local action. Up to the time of Writing the employers have not replied.

American Oil Lands.

A report from Mexico City states that Mr. Alfred MacKenzie, a British subject, has been granted a three year concession to explore and exploit all year lands of Lower California on the GOvernment and private lands included between Santo Tomas and Punta de Canons. The newspapers there declare that -the British Government is backing Mr. MacKenzie with a view to dominating the petroleum industry in Lower California. It is also reported that Japan is to control the same industry in Sonora.

Local Proceedings.

A motor tractor to haul the fire-engine is required by Horsham U.D.C.

Warrington Council is to borrow £1,380 for the purchase of motor lollies.

Bradford Clean ing Committee wants to purchase a vacuum gully emptier, to cost £1,605.

Peterborough 'Town Council is to raise a loan of £1,440 for the purchase of a .steam lorry..

Boston Rural Di\strict Council is conaidering the purchase of a steam tractor and two trailers.

Hereford Rural District Council has arranged to get a loan of £1,950 for the .purchase of a motor fire-engine

The Chief Coastal-de of Dudley has been authorized to order a Leyland motor fire-engine at a cost of about-, £2,046.

Ilford Tramways Committee has asked the tramways manager to obtain quotations La a 3 ton electric or petrol lorry.

A new steam wagon is to be purchased by Tewkesbury T.C., in the event of a secend-hand vehicle being unobtainable.

'Salford Corporation Markets Committee .:propases to convert ,a shed at the cattle iii'arket into a motor garage at a cost of 2375.

Manchester Corporation has accepted the tender of the British Motor Trading Corporation, Ltd., for the supply of three 30 cwt.. Vulcan lorries..

Walton-on-Thames Urban District Council is to purchase a motor fire. engine, having -secured sanction to borrow 21,600 for this purpose.

The fender of Mr. Tom Garner for the supply of two 24. ton Guy petrol motor (steel body) tipping wagons has been accepted by the Manchester Corporation.

South Shields Corporation is applying to the Ministry of Health for sanction to borrow 21,890 for the purpose of duplicating the boosting plant at the Corporation yard.

Manchester Tramways Committee has accepted quotations by the Sentinel Waggon Works. Ltd., Shrewsbury, for the supply of three Sentinel wagons, and by the Daimler Co. Ltd., Coventry, for the supply of a Daimler 2-3 ton chassis.

Ilford Council's Works Committee reports an offer from the British Motor Trading Corporation, Ltd., to sell to the Council 30 ,cwt. commercial vehicles, upon which the committee does not see its way to make any recommendation.

The Ministry of Health has authorized the borrowing of the following amounts required for the purchase of motor vehicles :—Hereford R.D.C., £1,950 for a fire-engine; Hull Corporation, £1,985 for a fire-engine; Walton-on-Thames 13.D.C., £1,565 for a fire-engine; Stokeon-Trent Corporation, £2,850 for motor wagons.

The Liverpool and District Motor. Haulage Contractors Association has become affiliated with the National Alliance of Commercial Road Transport Association and Federations, and is steadily adding to its membership.

NOTTINGHAM'S TRAMS.

Nottingham's Defective Arrangements tor Public Passenger Carrying.

1 T IS doubtful whether in any part of

the country, as represented 'by a town of commensurate size, a parallel could be found to the woefully defective arrangements which characterize sottingham'e public services for passenger

carrying. The criticism. is based not upon any inherent defects of the tramway system, as far as iti present inflexible lines of communieation extend, but to the wholly inexcusable failure to amplify existing means by the easily utilizable aid of motorbuses.

Whilst inordinately high tramway fares are being maintained, to afford partial relief to a depleted municipal exchequer, public convenience has been ignored by a stolid discountenancing of the running of buses upon routes which are altogether unprovided for.

It is being suggested locally that, if anything in the nature of -competition were permitted, the corporation might be subjected to a rude awakening as to the loss of obvious opportunities, but municipal monopoly renders impossible the operation of a factor which would act as a wholesome corrective.

Endless irritation is meanwhile being oecasionea by a hopelessly congested tramway system, in which the common experience, especially on Saturday and Sunday nights, is for hundreds of potential passengers to be left behind at the central points of departure in the Market Place. Motorbuses as supplementary aids would afford a remedy for the present inelastic plan, under which archaic methods are being perpetuated, mainly to the exclusion of consideration of alternating volumes of traffic. In the course of the municipal propaganda, which is now in fulleewing, with labour candidates dominating the situation, much is being heard of the bus question and of the failure of the Tramways Coramittee to respond to its obligations in the matter, with the result that the November elections may lead to a change of policy which has been too long delayed, either through supineness or fallacious analogies, in relation to working costa.

Incidentally, the absence of any general, queue system in connectien with the loading of Nottingham trams has given rise -to the gravest complaints resulting from

incon ve• nient which are not only but dangerous. Save for some slight attempts made, upon the occasion of football matches, to regulate.mattere at the Market Place and trent Bridge ends of a main route, little has been attempted, with the result that upon other occasions, at periods of 'inevitable pressure, scenes of wild scrambling are witnessed to obtain access to the ears, miners in particular, who throng the city on Saturday nights, manifesting no especial regard for the comfort of weaker people who may happen to be in the way.

The necessity of something being done to effect an improvement has been, upon innumerable occasions, pressed upon the responsible committee, and there is hope that some plan may al length he put into operation, which will relieve the city from the reproach of altogether defective conditions, the continuance 43,1 which has been due to a daisser fairs policy of administration.

The anticipation was also vouchsafed at the last meeting of the council by Mr. J. Clarkson, the Chairman of the Tramways Committee, that many of the present difficulties occasioned through the overcrowding of ,cars will be found su.seeptible of solution by the more rapid supply of new vehicles, which may now be rendered possible. In regard to the new bus experiment, the information was also forthcoming that a longer route is now to be adopted than that which has hitherto been followed, and which, from Its nature, had precluded almost the possibility of adequate financial return. The chairman's indication also of the reeogr. nition of the value of the buses as feeders of the tramway system is also significant of a broader view, which may lead to the wieler utilization of motor vehicles for which Nottingham inhabitants have been long contendmg.

U.S. MOTOR EXPORTS.

Last Year's Exports Nine Times as Great as Pre-war Volume.

RECORDS of the Department of Com11. merce for the fiscal year 1920, just ended, •show that motor vehicles and parts of vehicles valued at 232,252,376 dollars were shipped from that country. This was nearly nine times the total value of such exports before the war.

The number of commercial cars exported during the 12 months ended June 30th was 24,356, valued at 41,577,684 dollars, as compared with 12,921, valued at. 33,233,485 dollars in1919. Passenger scar shipments showed an even greater increase the total being 115,519, valued at 125:384,025 dollars, as compered with 41,291, valued at 45,852,705 dollars the year before. The United Kingdom led in the imports of both commercial and passenger cars, taking 4,593 of the former and 17,528 i[if the latter. Canada was second inthe matter of both types of oars, taking 2,44.3 commercial end 9,993 pas sengervehicles. Cuba imported 4,663 passenger ears and 1,526 'commercial vehicles. Brazil was next behind Canada in imports of passenger cars to the total of 6,109. British India imported 8,144 passenger cars, and British South Africa 5,752. Australia took 5,898, Argentina 3,343, and New Zealand 5,238 passenger ears. TheScandinavian countries also ware heavy purchasers of passenger automobiles, Norway taking 3,035 and Sweden 4,055. Spain purchased 2,714, Denmark 2,374,, China 1,059, Uruguay 2,754, Peru 1,051, Mexico 2,749, Philippine Islands 2,444, and Chile 619. France imported only 839 passenger vehicles, but it took 1,392 commercial ears. Japan also purchased 1,096 commercial trucks, and Mexico 1,017.

The demand for American machines brought with it a corresponding demand for equipment. The value of tyres exported during the fiscal year 1920 was 39,919,777 dollars, as compared with 22,630,200 dollars the year before. The total of automobile engines shipped was 39,421, valued at 6,070,449 dollars' Compared with 28,445, valued at 4,434,244 dollars the year before.

CONGESTED TRAFFIC.

Growth of Motor Traffic Congests Main , Thoroughfares.

ENORMOUS developments of commercial and other motor traffic in Nottingham have given rise to many per • plexing problems arising from congested condition of themain thoroughfares, the width of most of which is quite inadequate to modern-day requirements. In this sense the metropolis of the lace industry is suffering severely, like many old centres of manufacturing activity which,have long outgrown their original limits. But, in the present burdened state of municipal finance, it is regarded as hopeless to anticipate any much needed improvements in the central parts. The suggeetionhowever, ,being pressed that, in the interest not only of public convenience but safety, by the widening of the bridge over the Trent, which forms the main and practically the only access to the city upon the southern aide. The privately-owned toll.. bridge at Wilford, which is about a mile further up the river, is of little utility to meet general requirements, and there are no other bridges crossing the river ftt

nearer points to the city than tlinse at Gunthorpe, a somewhat dilapidated structure 12 miles down stream, and Sawley Bridge, which, on the other side, is 10 miles nearer the source of the Trent than Nottingham itself.

When the unsuccessful proposal of the City Corporation to extend the municipal area, by annexing a large number of surrounding towns said villages was re. cently launched,it was intimated, by way of attempted conciliation of prospective opponents, that there was a willingness to widen the .present Trent Bridge. It is -now being urged that, apart from all schemes of local government expansion, theswork is imperatively called for one -auggestion. Which is not devoid of practicability being that another bridge might be placed alongside the existing structure and matters SO arranged that one section should be used for southWardbound traffic -and the other for that proceeding in a northerly direction.

STILL DISCUSSING.

Improvements to Relieve Merseyside Ferry -Congestion.

REPORTING to the Birkenhead • Ferries Committee on an interview -with the reprwntatives of Mersey Docks and Harbour Board regarding the terms upon which the Board would be prepared sto carry out alterations at the Woodside Landing Stage to provide an additional goods berth to relieve the congestion of traffic, Captain Langshaw, the ferries manager, said that the representatives of the Board agreed to recommend that the alterations should be carried out, subjectto the Corporation paying the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board an annual sum equal to 121 per cent. on actual cost of the alterations, which were estimated at £20,000, for a period of 20 years, provided that after 10 years -the Board reconsider the percentage rate with a view to its reduction.

Captain Langehaw added that the representative of the Dock Board also promised to recommend that the Board should give an assurance that when the alterations are carried out ,sufficient additional accommodation will be available at the Liverpool Landing Stage. The recommendations require the ratification of the respective authorities. la13